Tre'Davious White
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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 09: Tre'Davious White #27 of the Buffalo Bills reacts while signing autographs after an NFL Preseason 2025 game between New York Giants and Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills are dealing with injuries at the cornerback position and head coach Sean McDermott provided an injury update on Monday for Tre’Davious White.
White, who came back to Buffalo after spending a season elsewhere, suffered a groin injury during the final week of training camp and remained out leading up to Sunday night’s season opener.
With first-round rookie Maxwell Hairston on Injured Reserve with a knee sprain, the Bills planned to open Week 1 with veteran White starting at the CB2 spot.
Instead, sixth-round rookie Dorian Strong got the nod.
Tre’Davious White is ‘Improving,’ More Expected Wednesday
White never suited up for practice in the week leading into the home opener, carrying a doubtful tag into Sunday before being ruled inactive. Even so, there’s a sense of optimism that his return may not be far off.
“Tre’Davious is improving. We’ll see where that goes over the next couple of days as we head into the week of work. We’ll go from there and I’ll update you probably more on Wednesday when I know a little bit more of where these injuries are that we do have. More minor type things to my knowledge so far,” McDermott said on Monday afternoon in Orchard Park.
Tre'Davious White
GettyORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 08: Dean Marlowe #31 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with Tre’Davious White #27 of the Buffalo Bills after White’s interception during the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
The 30-year-old White spent his first seven seasons in Buffalo but played for the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens last year. He signed back with the Bills on a one-year deal in April.
Dorian Strong Had Highs and Low in the Opener
Strong has a good chance to notch his second straight start when Buffalo heads to New York to face the Jets on Sunday.
Strong played every defensive snap in Buffalo’s 41-40 win, delivering the kind of mixed performance one might expect from a Day 3 rookie making his NFL debut under the primetime lights against Baltimore’s offense. One low point came in the third quarter, when he appeared to lose track of receiver Zay Flowers on a short crossing route that turned into a 36-yard gain.
“Young player going out there getting his first experience. Like all of us, he wants some plays back, but I thought he really did some good things,” said McDermott.
One of Strong’s standout moments came when he stopped Derrick Henry just short of the end zone on a burst off right tackle. Henry rumbled 49 yards before the rookie cornerback finally dragged him down at the Buffalo 15.
“The touchdown-saving tackle on one of the long runs by Henry, you don’t see a lot of corners finishing off that play, especially when it’s one-on-one with Derrick Henry. I thought I was impressed by that, (and) he how hard he played. Those are good first steps that we can grow with,” said McDermott.
In addition to White and Strong, the Bills have three other cornerbacks on the roster: Christian Benford, Ja’Marcus Ingram and Taron Johnson. Return man Brandon Codrington is also technically listed as a cornerback.